If you haven’t seen or read the original press release of the Upgraded UHZ65, you can read it here.

We’re excited that we’ve had so much buzz around our Upgraded UHZ65 projector. However, we’ve had so many people contact us with questions, we’ve decided to create a post on the Frequently Asked Questions. These are also posted on product pages. So, without further ado, here are the questions and answers!

FAQs

How is this 'Upgrade' being achieved?
As mentioned in our press release, a custom-engineered PureChrome©* ultra-efficient cinema filter is being added. Additionally, our engineers make other optical modifications (such as reducing the amount of reflected light inside the light engine). Each projector is, further, being individually configured for settings or REC709, DCI P3, and BT2020. *PureChrome © TVS Pro 2018
Does it still come with Optoma's 3 year warranty?
Optoma USA has approved this modification and the warranty for UHZ65’s bought in the USA are still valid. Please notify us of any failures first.
Can you modify an international version and/or will you ship internationally?
Currently, with our Optoma contract, we are not authorized to sell or ship projectors outside of the US – even though Optoma representatives from around the world are aware of our modification.

Unfortunately, we are only authorized by Optoma USA to perform these modifications. If we were to do these modifications on one purchased outside of the US, we cannot, at this time, guarantee that the projector would still be covered under warranty.

We understand there is international demand, and we apologize for the inconvenience.

Are there partners outside of the US that can perform this modification?
As mentioned above, we are only authorized by Optoma USA to perform these modifications on projectors bought from Optoma USA. If these modifications were performed on a projector purchased outside of the US, we cannot, at this time, guarantee that the projector would still be covered under warranty.

Although Optoma USA has approved this modification they will not make them, nor will the international divisions make them either.

In addition, it is not just a simple custom-made filter installation that we’ve had made for the projector. There are additional optical modifications (such as reducing the amount of reflected light inside the light engine) that have to be done to each projector by a highly skilled technician. On top of that, custom calibration and configuration has to be done to effectively to reach 80% BT2020. Each Theo-Z65 projector takes over 5 hours to modify (The Theo-Z65 Lite takes much less time); it’s very time consuming. It is not something that can easily and quickly be done.

Why does it take so long to get the upgraded projector or have an existing projector upgraded?
It is not simply an addition of a filter. There are additional optical modifications (such as reducing the amount of reflected light inside the light engine) that have to be done to each projector. On top of that, custom calibration has to be done to effectively reach 80% BT2020. As word has gotten out, demand for the upgrade has also risen.

Fortunately, due to improved filters and a new process, we now are able to make the upgrades quicker than they have taken in the past.

If the modified UHZ65 is able to product up to o80% of the REC2020 color gamut why did Optoma choose to produce theirs with only rec709 color?
Two main reasons: cost and brightness. To add a custom-tuned cinema filter for this projector would add considerably cost and would place the projector outside of their target price point. The wide color gamut also reduces the overall brightness and Optoma chose to hit their 3,000 lumen output with the UHZ65.

In addition, Hollywood is currently grading content to P3 inside of BT2020. With our background and experience in the motion picture industry (we are a Red Camera, Sony CineAlta, and Canon Cinema dealer) we knew about and have been shooting in very wide color gamut (even beyond BT2020) for at least the last 8 years. We also knew that most current displays cannot even do 100% of P3 color. When we measured and saw what color beyond P3 looks like we wanted to share that with other enthusiasts of ultra wide color – even though it is outside of normal calibration and what the director is currently limited to with P3 inside of BT2020 (whether or not they want wider color).

Why do other manufacturers choose to limit their color gamut on their 4K projectors
If it is a lamp-based projector it is much more difficult (not realistic with most current filter designs) to get much beyond the 60% to 65% of REC2020. Other 4K laser projectors could achieve this, but so far, we’ve seen no other laser light source 4K projectors that have achieved this that we could find for less than $35,000.

In addition, Hollywood is currently grading content to P3 inside of BT2020. With our background and experience in the motion picture industry (we are a Red Camera, Sony CineAlta, and Canon Cinema dealer) we knew about and have been shooting in very wide color gamut (even beyond BT2020) for at least the last 8 years. We also knew that most current displays cannot even do 100% of P3 color. When we measured and saw what color beyond P3 looks like we wanted to share that with other enthusiasts of ultra wide color – even though it is outside of normal calibration and what the director is currently limited to with P3 inside of BT2020 (whether or not they want wider color).

Will the modified UHZ65 be bright enough for my screen?
Most likely yes, unless it is over 150” and you have lights on in the room. It also depends on the type of screen, the color mode selected, the color of the walls etc. If you want to watch the projector with some lights on then we would suggest keeping the screen to less than 120”. The best HDR experience will be in a dark theater-like environment with screens less than 140” and a screen gain of .8 to 1.3. A standard white matt screen is a gain of 1.0.
How accurate is the calibration?
It is as accurate as is possible using a balance between technically correct and a reasonable amount of brightness. Each projector comes with an information sheet for optimizing the user’s preference for brightest or most accurate in each color mode for REC709, DCIP3, or REC2020.
Most projectors have a brightness rating that is really unusable because the image is too yellow or green, is this the case with this projector?
No, the brightest setting “Bright” on the this projector is still very usable and only the trained eye will notice the slight differences in color accuracy and white balance.
If the "Bright" mode is not accurate as the other modes when would you use it?
The “Bright” mode is used with some lights on like in a sports gathering or for very large screens over 150” and up to 180”.
Since most projectors that use cinema filters are lamp based and start with 1,500 to 1,900 lumens and end up with less than 1,000 lumens with their filter engaged, how is the modified UHZ65 different?
Since the modified UHZ65 starts with 3,000 lumens we are able to achieve a very good balance of wide color and good brightness of up to a usable 2,400 lumens for the Theo-Z65 and 2,200 lumens for the THeo-Z65 Lite. The HDR mode with wide color (up to 80% of REC2020) will typically reach a brightness of 1,600 to 1,800 lumens. Lamp based projectors rarely reach past 65% of REC2020 with their best color mode and rarely reach past 1,200 lumens.
Why do some who have seen the modified version think it is as bright or brighter than the unmodified UHZ65?
It is largely due to the Helmholtz-Kohlrausch effect which states that pure color is perceived as being brighter.
There are now two versions of the upgrade: The Theo-Z65 and the Theo-Z65 Lite. What is the difference?

Quick Version: The Theo-Z65 Lite is 200 lumens less in brightness, is calibrated to 4 settings instead of 12, costs less, and takes less time to calibrate and ship out.

We’ve made a video to help explain:

What other questions do you have?

Written by T.V.S. Pro

Written by T.V.S. Pro

T.V.S. Pro is a sales and install organization specializing in providing best value professional audio and video products and solutions.

2 Comments

  1. juanchoromlas

    Is there any better projector with the price range of the THEO-ZHZ65 geared for 3D movies?

    • TVS Pro

      Not that we are aware of. For 3D and good color you would need to move up the the JVC NX7 or the BenQ HT9060 – and both are near or over $8K. The low cost option might be to go with the Optoma UHD51A as it does have 3D capability and is very low cost compared to any of these. But, it must be used with a black frame edge and or dark background behind the screen to hide the wide grey boarders.

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